{"product_id":"tonight-on-a-very-special-episode-when-tv-sitcoms-sometimes-got-serious-volume-1-hardback-1957-1985-9781629336367","title":"Tonight, On A Very Special Episode When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious Volume 1 (hardback): 1957-1985","description":"\u003cp\u003eRemember when Edith Bunker was sexually assaulted on \u003cem\u003eAll in the Family\u003c\/em\u003e? Or when abortion was the hot topic on \u003cem\u003eMaude\u003c\/em\u003e? Did you know that \u003cem\u003eLeave it to Beaver\u003c\/em\u003e dealt with alcoholism and that \"The Bicycle Man\" double episode from \u003cem\u003eDiff'rent Strokes\u003c\/em\u003e is one of the most remembered sitcom entries in the annals of American television history? \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe role of the Very Special Episode was to take a departure from the regular comic stylings of the American TV sitcom and offer a standalone \"serious in nature\" gesture in addressing subject matter not normally found in such a medium. From racial equality on \u003cem\u003eBewitched\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eHappy Days\u003c\/em\u003e to suicide on \u003cem\u003eOne Day At A Time\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Facts of Life\u003c\/em\u003e and beyond, take an in depth look at a number of Very Special Episodes - from early examples to the heyday of the phenomena come the 70s and 80s, with insight from varied historians, critics and individuals who worked on some of the shows. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"BearManor Media","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50379124670738,"sku":"9781629336367","price":45.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_3ed51074-1fb2-4962-9763-5ac7e8cd99be.jpg?v=1728656615","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/tonight-on-a-very-special-episode-when-tv-sitcoms-sometimes-got-serious-volume-1-hardback-1957-1985-9781629336367","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}